69 SC Journey

An original trunk mat is restored as best as can be done and looks pretty good.  Far closer to original than the repops...

Suspension is finally done.  Getting the springs in was a huge pain!!  The components underneath are as close to original finish as can be done with coatings:

Door glass and vent wing work on the left wing was still on the to do list and a lot of work.  The channel rubber on the left door was shot.  Replaced with as close of rubber as I could get and urethane adhesive.  Then I used oil activated liner for the stainless surround on the door glass - that was a (3) man job - I suggest large wood clamps for anyone else trying!

Polished stainless, a rebuilt rubber stop at the top, home-modified vent pivot screws, replated pivot and an NOS vent window (with frame) rounded out the restoration of the left vent wing assembly.  Note to others - the vent pivot may grow in diameter if you have it replated, I had trouble with getting it to fit the vent window socket and had to drill out the socket.  I had found an NOS right pivot but never a left - wish I had stumbled upon one....

The left remote latch was rebuilt with an NOS latch mechanism and rest of it restored.

NOS window regulators were brought out of storage and cleaned and regreased for assembly:

I think I will do a segment after the car is finished entitled:  "The build problems due to NOS parts".  The left regulator above was one of the biggest offenders yet and will make the cut for that later episode.  Moving on....

Dad was down for Fall Hershey week and we got to loading the doors:

On a night earlier this week, it was the "fight with the fuzzies night", and finally finished up the top edge of the doors:

Gordy Chilson was willing to give up one of his Fall Hershey evenings to come mentor me through front and rear glass install.  My local glass guy went total MIA on me and I was in crisis mode.  Grateful to have a battle hardened SC/R warrior to lead the way on this job.  None of us are happy with the reproduction back glass rubber results on the install and I really should pull the rear window again but I think I want to see some sort of improvement on this crap reproduction that is made before trying again.  Action shots of the many hands that night:

A day later it had glass and was sitting on all four tires and actually looked like a car for the first time!

The steering column was finished up last weekend and installed right after this picture - boy that is a tight fit.  We ended up having to take the shaft end coupler back off, install it on the steering box and then shoot the steering column down through it into the splines and reattach.  The coupler would not clear the control arm area on the spring towers!!

NOS bumpers, NOS parking and backup housings and hardware were prepped this week and we got the front bumper installed late Saturday, the rear is ready to go on when I have the number of hands necessary.

The engine bay is just about populated now.  Fan pulley, spacer, blades, belts, shroud and fresh radiator all got loaded Saturday afternoon.  Breathing a sigh of relief when the radiator was bolted in safely.

Tonight for the first time in 27 years, Betsy Ross is staring back at me!!!  NOS headlight buckets, and NORS TungSol headlamps were installed!  (NOS "eye-liners" will come later)

Gotta keep moving - lots to get done this week!  I am seeing some boxes starting to empty - I think that is a good sign!